Switch or outlet box.



w. A. BONNELL. SWITCH 0R OUTLET BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 1909.

956,674. Patented May 3, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@vi/hamaca: Jn/vanto@ w. A. BONNELL.

SWITCH OOOOOOOOOO X.

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j of which the following isa full, clear, and

Y rece tacl'e boxembodying my invention and line 3 3, Fig. 1. f Fig. 4 is an end view of vBrooklyn, county of Kings, State of' New UNITED STATES Param." oFnIoE.

WILLIAM A. BoNNELL, or BnooKLYmnew YORK, ,AssIGNon 'ro HAT'IIE 'W. BONNELI., or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

IsWrrcn on OUTLET Box.

Patented May a, 1910;

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, WiILIAM A. Bonnin., a citizen of the United States, residmgat York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch or Outlet Boxes,

exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in switch and plug rece tacle boxes employed in electric wiring an may be ap lied with equal advantage both to boxes ofp the character designatedand to so-called junction and outlet boxes.

The object of the invention is to provide a b'ox of this character with stationa bushings for the reception and firm hol ing of electric conduits, and with effective clamping means for holding said conduits in position irrespective of the rough. condition 'of the terminals of the armor thereof due to careless cutting of the conduits.

A further object is'to so construct said clamping means as to most effectually engae the armor of the conduits. Y

further object is to provide the box with adjustable means for securing the same in position either` to the lathingof a new building and permit clearance to bring the face of the box substantially iiush with the face of the plastering, or, on the other hand, to bring the outer face of the box. substantially flush with the surface of a panel within which it is secured.

A further object is to provide a modification of my invention which will .be adapted for use as an outlet box in connection with chandeliers and the like and having, in combination with'the cable receiving apertures and bushings, suitable passages for therece tion of gas pipes.

llZVith these objects in view the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts preferred embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawin in which,

igure 1 1s a plan viewof a switch or plug looking into the interior of the box. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of said box show" the different positions of the securin brac ets. Fig. 3 is a sectionalyvie'w on the p ane ofthe the box. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1

bushings of an outlet box embodying my improve-l ments. F' 6 is a detail view'in perspective of one of t e securing brackets, and Fig. 7 comprises upper and under side' planviews and a side and end :elevation of the clamping member used in conjunction with the box.

'Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the embodiment of my invention herein illustrated consists inthe usual metal box or casing 1,'which in the form here shownis provided with bushings Qator `adjacent tothe base preferably arrangedin pairs at opposite ends of the box, asshown. These arev preferably formed integral with the bx and are provided with anges 3 having rounded edges 4 and forming apertures 5 for the assage of the 'electric cables, said rounded es servin to revent abrasion of the insulation o sai cable. Between the bushings of each pair and preferably forming part of the walls thereof is a lrid e6 threaded at 7 to receive the screw -8 whlch secures 'the conduit clamps 9 in osition; said clamps lying between .the en s of the bushings and the wall of the box. .In the form here shown, such clamping member,

Fig. 7, consists ofa body or bridge portion 10 having an aperture 11 to recelve the securing screw and has formed in its under side the curved 'recesses'.lQ, which aref sub.

stantially of the radius of the conduit to be secured and having knock-,out disks 13 formed integral with the body portion in said recesses 12, which knock-out disks-normally close the :conduitreceiving openings 14in the Walls of the box. I have so constructed the device that the disks may be readily Apunched in and broken oivf, when'it is desired to p'ass the conduit into the corresponding opening. It will be seen from' an inspection of Fig.' 7 that the knock-out disks are arranged at 'an angle to the bod portion ofthe c amping mem er correspon ing tothe pitch of the spiral winding of the conduit armor and said disks at the` line of ,junction with said body ortion are slightly thinned to facilitate the reaking out opera-v tion, Furthermore, this thinned portion, when the disks have been lbroken out, presents a comparatively sharp ridge for engagement with the conduit yarmor to enable the clamps to hold the conduits morel securely inazposition. The breaki oi of the disks leaves' van edge of.raw` or re metal adapted to for-m a ood ground connection for the conduit when in engagement therewith. The upper portion of the box above the bushings 2 affords sufficient space for the reception of electric switches or plugs to which the electric cables are to be connected. By forming the bushings integral dental release of the conduits. F urthermore, the position of the clamping edges, left by knocking out the disks 13, close to the walls of the box and far removed from the inner ends of the bushings insure gripping the conduits at a considerable distance from their ends thus insuring the gripping of the armor of the conduits well within the roughcut or broken ends of said armor. In order to provide for securing the box in pro er position, as, for example, to the laths o a new building, I provide the securing brackets l5 having the apertured ears 16 to receive the securing screws and having a slot 17 for the reception of the screw 18 which secures the bracket to the box l. The upper edge of the box is provided with apertured lugs 19 tov receive the screws for holding the usual cover (not shown) on the box and the brackets l5 are provided at the edge between the lears 16 witha recess 2O adapted to embrace the lugs 19 and be guided thereby and hold the brackets in proper ositionwith their ears in alinement with t e rim of the box.

I also provide lugs 2l (Fig. 4) below the lugs 19 on the ends of the box to rest in said recess 2O of the clamping brackets when the said bracket is in reverse position, as shown in F igs.r 2 and 4. The position of the bracket as illustrated to the left of Fig. 2 and in Fig. 4 provides for suicient clearance between the ears 16 and the rim of the box for the plastering of the walls or ceilin as the case may be, whereas the position o the clampingk bracket to the rightrof Fig. 2 provides for the securing of the box with its rim substantially Hush with the surface of a panel within which it may be supported. The bracket furthermore maybe provided with a projection 22 on its edge opposite the recess 20 to limit its adjustment between the lu 19 and Ithe lu 21. It will be noticed t at the depth o the recess 20 is substantially equal to the thickness of the lug 19 whereby when the bottom ofv said recess is' seated against the under side of said lug, the ears 16 of the bracket will be substantially flush with the rim of the box.

Fig. 5 illustrates my invention applied to a so-called i outlet box and comprises a circular box 23, which may have an aperture 24 at its center to receive a gas pipe for a chandelier projected from the ceiling or wall of the room and also with side openings 25 for the passage of gaspipes extending laterally into the outlet box. As here shown, the vopening 25 may be provided with removable gates 26 arranged to slide in -of the circular box. In other respects, the

means for securing the conduits is the same as that heretofore described.

While I have herein described particular embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood the same may be varied in detail and relative arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

What I claim is: Y

l. An electric appliance for electric conduits comprising a box or casing, having a conduit aperture therein, a stationary bush ing therein spaced away from the wall thereof opposite saidaperture and a clamping member interposed between said bushing and said wall and having a knock-out disk formed integral' therewith, said disk arranged to stand closely adjacent tosaid wall whereby the conduit is gripped at the greatest distance from its end within said box.

2. An electrical appliance comprising a box or casing, having conduit apertures therein bushings formed integral therewith at the bottom thereof opposite said apeitures 'res ctively, the outer ends of said bushings eingspaced away from the walls of said box and a clamping member interposed between said bushings and the walls of the box and having one or more knockout disks formed integral therewith, so arranged as to lie closely adjacent to the wall of said box.

'3. An electricalappliance for electric conduits comprisin a `box or casing, bushings formed integra therewith at the bottom thereof, and sbaced away from the walls of said box, sai casing having a ertures in said walls in alinement with said bushings, clamping members interposed between said bushin s and said walls and having knockout dis s formed integral therewith and arranged to lie close to and close said apertures whereby when said disks are removed,

the raw ed es left thereby will form gripping ed es or the conduits considerably removed rom the inner ends of said bushings.

4. An electrical a pliance for electric conduits having spirally arranged armor comprising a box or casing'having conduit apertures therein, bushings formed integraltherewithv adjacent the walls thereof and spaced away from said walls opposite said apertures respectively, clamping members adapted to be inter osed between said bushings and walls an having knock-out disks formed integral therewith, saiddisks being arranged at an angle to the body of said.

Yto the body of said clamping members whereby the gripping edges left by the breaking out of said disks will extend in lines coincident with the spiral of the armor of the conduits to be secured.

6. In an electrical appliance for electric conduits having spirally arranged armor, a box or casing, having conduit apertures therein conduit receiving bushings therein, opposite said apertures respectively clampin members arranged to coperate with said bushings to secure conduits in said box, said members hav-ing one or more knockout disks arranged at an angle to the body of said clampmg members whereby the edges left by the knocking out of said disk will extend in-lines substantially coincident with the spiral of the armor of said conduits to more eectually grip and secure the same.

7. An electrical appliance for electric conduits comprising a box or casing, bushings formed ,integral therewith adjacent the bottom thereof, clamping members interposed between said bushings andthe walls'of said box to secure the conduits within said bushings, said casing having o enings in its walls between said bushings or the assage of gas or other pipes and removab e gates in said openings.

8. Anelectrical appliance for electric conduits comprising a circular'bo'x or casing, stationary bushings arranged radially thereof and spaced away from the-.side wall of said box, said casing having apertures 1in said wall registering with said bushings,'a

Vclamping member `interposed between said bushin s and said wall and having knock-out disks ormed integral therewith arranged to lie closely adjacent to said wall and overlying said apertures whereby` when said disks are removed, 'rou hened edges of bare metal will remain to iormclamping edges to secure and hold the conduits within said bushings.

9. A clamping member for an outlet box comprising a -body portion having knockout disks integral therewith4 and arranged at an angle thereto whereby when said disks are vremoved roughened edges of bare metal will remain and extending in lines substantially coincident with the spiral of the armorof the conduits to be secured thereby.

10. A clamping 'member for outlet boxes comprising a body portion, one or more knock-out disks formed integral therewith and arranged atanangle thereto,.the material ofsaid disks beingthinned at the line of junction with said body portion whereby the removal of said diskswill leave -comparatively sharp edges of bare metal" extendin in lines substantially coincident with the splral of the winding ofthe conduits with which said 'members are used.

Witnesses:

CHAS. A. PEARD, M. EpGannnfrr.

WILLIAMjA; BoNNnLL. l 

